Dog and cat owners in Podgorica will not be able to breed their pets until 2030, and after that, non-commercial breeding will be allowed once during their lifetime, with the owner being required to report it. Commercial breeding is only allowed if the owner has a kennel registration certificate.
By the beginning of April, municipal services should harmonize their systematization and provide job positions for municipal police officers and animal inspectors.
This is, among other things, stipulated in the new decision on keeping pets in the Capital City, which came into force at the beginning of the year. The new decision was made fifteen years after Podgorica first prescribed the conditions and manner of keeping pets and dealing with abandoned and lost pets at the local level.
"This reform represents an important step towards establishing a more modern, detailed and clearer legal framework that more closely regulates the rights and obligations of pet owners, competent authorities and companies, as well as the protection of citizens, animals and the environment in this municipality," said "Korina".
This animal protection association actively participated in the decision-making process, submitting comments at various stages.
The ban on breeding dogs and cats is the biggest change brought about by the new decision. In addition, as indicated by "Korina", the decision also stipulates mandatory permanent (surgical) sterilization, or castration, for all abandoned pets in the Capital City area. If uncontrolled breeding occurs, the owner is, as foreseen, obliged to take care of the newborn pets or to bear the actual costs incurred in the shelter for abandoned animals.
Sterilization and castration with the support of the City
The capital city will, as stipulated in the new decision, once a year publish a public call for subsidies for the sterilization and castration of owner-operated dogs and cats, whose owners reside in the territory of Podgorica, and those who meet the requirements will receive support in the amount of 50 percent of the total cost of the procedure.
The exception will be the first public call, when funds will be fully provided from the budget of the Capital City, until the funds planned in the budget for this purpose are spent.
Systematization in utility services
Podgorica will have both a municipal inspector and a pet police officer. The municipal inspector will carry out inspection supervision, while the municipal police officer will be responsible for ensuring communal order and communal supervision.
They will, among other things, have the authority to read microchips in pets, which determines ownership of the animal.
The decision stipulates that these services must align their job classifications with the decision within three months of its entry into force, which is by the beginning of April.
"As for other measures that more closely determine the way pets are kept on a daily basis, this decision brings many more novelties and details compared to the previous version. For example, it is allowed to bring a pet into an elevator when the elevator is being used by other persons, when they give their consent (usually this provision prohibits the use of the elevator by the dog owner when the same is being used by other persons)," Korina states.
The owner and the dog are at the same address
The decision prohibits permanently and independently keeping a pet at an address other than the owner's place of residence or temporary residence, unless it is a working dog guarding a specific facility or property - provided that the owner provides daily supervision.
If the pet owner keeps the dog in an enclosed building (box) or the dog is tied up, it must be taken for a walk at least once a day to fulfill its physiological and physical needs.
The decision provides that a dog may be kept in an unfenced yard or other unfenced open space, tied with a chain, which slides on a cable of appropriate length in accordance with the size of the space in which the dog is located and the size of the dog, in a way that does not restrict the dog's movement and does not endanger its well-being, provided that it is not permanently tied.
A dog must not be tied to a chain shorter than three meters, and the tether and collar must be made of such a material that they do not cause pain or injury to the dog.
The decision on keeping pets in the territory of the Capital City of Podgorica stipulates that the owner cannot take a pet to public areas and parks that has not been vaccinated against rabies.
Until vaccination, pets can only be taken out within the owner's residence. The owner of a pet, as it says, bears full responsibility for its behavior in public areas.
Up to 100 euros for not cleaning up after the dog
It is also mandatory to carry cleaning equipment (poo bags or other equipment) when taking your pet out into public areas. The fine for individuals for this violation ranges from 50 to 100 euros.
A pet may be kept tied up in public areas and in front of public buildings if this does not disrupt public order, the operations of the building, or the welfare of the animal, and for a maximum of 10 minutes.
Although this is prescribed in the Regulation on the Keeping of Dangerous Dogs, the Decision for Podgorica stipulates in more detail that a dangerous dog may only be taken out by a person over the age of 21, on a leash up to 1,5 meters long, appropriate to the size and strength of the dog, and with a protective basket.
The decision also addresses the issue of the owner's responsibility regarding the animal's health, as well as the obligation to provide the pet with adequate space for recovery after providing adequate veterinary care.
Also, as the document states, a citizen who notices an injured or sick pet can provide the necessary assistance or notify "Čistoć".
For injured and sick pets whose owner or keeper cannot be identified and who are found in the Capital City, the costs of treatment will be financed from the budget of "Čistoća", at an authorized veterinary clinic with which "Čistoća" has a contract.
If a pet owner is identified who refuses to pay for the pet's treatment costs, "Čistoća", as foreseen, may initiate proceedings for reimbursement of costs.
The decision prohibits any form of torture and abuse of pets, especially throwing firecrackers, other pyrotechnic devices or solid objects at pets and tying pets to means of transport for running or other activities, which was a practice recorded in Podgorica.
The range of fines for violations under this decision ranges from 50 to 1.000 euros for natural persons and the responsible person in a legal entity, from 100 to 5.000 euros for legal entities, from 100 to 1.000 euros for the responsible person in a company (“Čistoća”), and from 50 to 3.000 euros for entrepreneurs.
Encourage the care of abandoned animals
The decision on keeping pets in the territory of Podgorica also stipulates that the company "Čistoća" can set up a temporary facility, i.e. a house and feeding area for abandoned pets in public areas, with the consent of the Capital City.
Citizens are also allowed to place water and food bowls for pets on public or private areas, especially in the summer months, unless this violates the tenants' house rules.
"Korina" reminds that this is prohibited in some places.
"This provision aims to encourage the citizens of Podgorica to take care of abandoned and homeless animals, which is an important element in creating a sustainable public policy to control the population of abandoned animals and to strengthen community awareness. This cannot be the sole obligation of the state or local government, because then the desired effect is not achieved, which is different behavior of all citizens and acceptance of abandoned animals as part of the community," they said.
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